Post-forming machine.



G 6. McGLAUGHLIN & A. MILL.

POST FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4. IBM- Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH 60., WASHINGTON. D. c.

G. G. McGLAUGHLlN & A. MILL.

POST FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4. 1912.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915. 7

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Ls 08 Q9 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINCITON, D c.

G. G. McGLAUGHLIN & A. MILL.

POST FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED UEC.4. 1912,

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

5 SHEETS$HEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-.WA5NINGTDN. D. c.

G. G. McGLAUGHLIN & A. MILL.

POST FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1912.

1 ,1 58,703. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

f! GAO rinirnn sraans ra rnnr ens-ion.

GEORGE Gr. MoGLAUGI-ILIN AND ANTONMILL, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOES, BY DIRECT AND MESNE *ASSIGNMENTS, 0F ONE-EALF T0 SAID ItToGLAUGHLIN AND ONE-HALF TO LAWRENCE K. SLABACK, OF SiLVEETON, OHIO.

POST-FORMING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed December 4, 1912. Serial No. 734,821.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, GEORGE G. M0- GLAUGHLIN and ANTON MILL, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Cincinnati, county of Hamilton, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usevful Improvements in Post-Forming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metal presses and has for an object to produce a machine for manufacturing tubular sheet metal-posts.

A further object is to produce a machine which will receive a sheet metal blank and will press it into a trifoliate form, without the necessity of handling the sheet during the forming operation. 7 a

A. further obJect is to produce amachme provided with a plurality of sets of dies,

whichcooperate in the operation of forming a tubular metal post.

These and other objects we attain in a machineembodying the features herein described, and illustrated in the drawings accoinpanying and forming a part of this application.

in the drawings Figure l-is a view of a machine. embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of themachine illustrated in 1, portions being broken away for convenience of illustration. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, portions being broken away for c0nvenience of illustration. Fig. at is a frag mental section alongthe line i t ofFig. 3. F1 5 is a fragmental section along the hne of Fig. '3, the gears being removed for convenience of illustration. Fig. 6 is a fragmental' sectional view corresponding to Fig. i and-shows the finishing dies in the operative position. a piston rod which forms a detail of our invention. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a tongnecutting punch which forms an inset forone' of the dies. Fig. 9 is a fragmental perspective view of a die, which forms an inset or a portion of one of the forming dies and which cooperates with the punch dies shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a post which maybe formed by the nachine illustrated.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of v handled during the process of forming a post. The means illustrated, for accomplishing this, consists of oppositely disposed dies 12 and 13, which cooperate with each other in initially bending or distorting the sheet metal blank, and a second pair of jaws or dies 1 and 15, which receive the metal blank after it has been initially distorted, and press it into the final shape. In the drawings, the two sets of dies are so located, relatively to each other, that the direction of the pressure exerted on the metal sheet by the set 01": finishing dies 1-: and 15, is at right angles to the direction of the pressure exerted by the dies 12 and 13. As illustrated, the dies 12 and 13 are so arranged that the die 13 moves in a vertical plane, during the operation of initially bending or distorting the metal sheet or blank, and the dies 14 and 15 move in a horizontal plane, during the operation of finishing the post. It will, however, be understood that the dies 1% and 15 may be located in various positions, with relation to the dies 12 and 13, and that the direction of their line of action need not necessarily extend at right angles to the line of action of the die 13.

In accordance with the requirements or the United States patent statutes, and for the purpose of clearly disclosing our invention, we will now describe in detail the illustrated embodiment of our invention, but we desire it to be understood that various changes. modifications, omissions, additions, and substitutions may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope oi our invention, as set forth by the claims appended to, and forming a part of, this application.

Referring to the drawings, throughout the several views of which like reference numerals indicate the same parts, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the die 12 is substantially the same length as the finished metal post, it extends longitudinally of the machine and is mounted rigidly on a die or table 16, which forms a part of during its reciprocations, by ways/which ex- 1 tend along end support members orpedes-vr tals 20, mountedon the table 16. Thepe l-il estals are located at opposite ends of the table and cohperate in supporting an arched V bearing of the shaft is located in a recess,

which is formed in the upper end of the beam 18, which extends longitudinally of the machine and on which the bearings offa power shaft 21', which isherein shown as a crank shaft, are mounted.

The jaws, or dies 14 and 15 are mo-unted on the table 16 and are'l'ocated on opposite sides of the die 12; These jaws are 0f the same length as the dies 12 and-13, and are capable of being moved toward and away from each other, acrossthe table 16; andare respectively actuated by arms 22 and'22;

Elie operatin'grphm'ger 17, of the die '13-,

and the actuating arms 22 and 22", of the respective dies 1a and 15, are actuated by the crank shaft 21, which extends longitudinally of the frame of the machine and is journal'ed. in suitable bearings mounted on the frame. The frame, in effect, consists of a bed plate 23, the die table 16, which is mounted on the plate 23, the pedestals-20, which are located at the ends of the dietable 16, and the beam 18, which is supported at its ends by means of the pedestals 20. The

beamis secured in place on the pedestals by means of bolts .2 1, Y which extend downwardly through the pedestals 20,th'e'table 16 and the. bed plate 23, and are anchored to the bed plate 23', as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In the drawings the bearings of the shaft 21 are shown suspended from and spaced along thebeam 18, which, as has been said, forms a part of, the frame. Each end adjacent pedestal 20, and which is located between the two beam supportingfa'ces, of

the pedestal. The other bearings are disposed along the beam, so as to most'effectively distribute the upward pressure, exerted by thepower. shaft during the pressing operation of the die 13.

In the machine illustrated, the power or" crank shaft 21 is driven by an intermediate shaft 25, through the agency of. two sets of intermcshing gears 26 and 27 The shaft 25 extends parallel to the shaft 21, and is mounted on brackets 28, formed on,the ped estals 20. The gears 26 are rigidly mounted on the over-hanging ends of the shaft 25 and each gear is located immediately adjacent to one of the mounting brackets. V The gears 27 are rigidly mounted on the overhanging ends. of the shaft 21 and, eachge'ar is located immediately adjacent tonne of the pedestals 20. The intermediate shaft 25 is driven by means of a driving shaft 29, which as illustrated, is journaled in the bearings mountedfon the b'rackets 28 and i s pro zided with twogears' 31 and 32, which are splined on the shaft and'are capable of being moved. I I

along it. The gear 31 is capable of being moved, intoand out of engagement with a gear 33, rigidly mounted on theshaft'2'5,

and the gear is capable of being moved into and out of engagement with-agear 3%,

which is also rigidly moimtedon' the shaft The ratio of the gears 31 and 33'is so proportioned, withrelation to the ratio'of the gears 32 and" 3 1, that they drive 'the in tor-mediate shaft "25, and consequently the power shaft 21", halfas fast"? as the gears and 3 1.- Wh'enit is desired" to drivethe power shaft21 at the maximumspeed, the

gear 32 is shifted longitudinally of the shaft 29, so that it'is moved into mesh withfthe gear 34', and the-gear 31' is shifted longitu dinally along the shaft, outpfzmesh with its cooperating gear 33. Theg'ear31 is moved into mesh with the gear 34' and the gear 32 is'moved outof mesh with the gear 3% when it' is desired to drive the shaft at the slow speed, Each of the gears 31andj 32 is pro videdwith a set-screw which projects through'a laterally extending hub portion" 35, formed lntegrally with the gear and is capable of locking the gear in the desired i 0 position onits mounting shaft 29. With this arrangement'either of the gears 31 and 32may be rendered efiectivein driving the intermediate and the power shaft' The crank shaft 21 1s so formed that it'is' provided with three crank pins of the usual construction, one pin being located midway 7 between the pedestals 20 of the frame of the 7 machine, and each of the other pins' being located adjacent to one of the pedestals. The plunger ls operatively connected to the relative positions of the dics 12 and 13 and of thereby accommodating the positions of shaft 21 means of three connectingrods wh ch, as illustrated, are capable of being ad usted for the purpose of varying the the dies to different thicknesses of "sheet,

metal. V r or Asallustrated, each connecting rod includesa member. 36,.which is adaptedto be pivotally secured to one of the crank pins of the shaft 21', and is provided with a, split sleeve 37 having an internally threaded bore;

An externally threaded sleeve 38 is screwed intothe split sleeve and a link 39 projects through the externally threaded sleeve and is held in place, relatively thereto, by means of check-nuts, which are screwed onto its inner end and 'engage'the inner end of the has reached the end of its downward stroke,

it is raised by the' power shaftand (louse-V quently releases the blank, which has been :V initially pressed or distorted. The cams 50 are} so located on the crank shaft 21 that they operate to raise the lifting arms 52 to I the position shown inFigs. 1 and i, as soon asthe-blank is released by the die 13. This moves theblank upwardly to a position be' tween the dies let and 15, and the cams are. so constructed that the arms hold the blank in that position until it is engaged by the dies 14 and 15, which are then moved in wardly through the agency of the cams l9 and 49; These cams are so constructed that they do not move the dies i l and i5 until after the die 13 has moved upwardly out of the path of their travel. The diesla and.

15 engage the blank, supported on the bars 52-, and compress it so that its lateral edges Varepressed into engagement with each other,

asshown in Fig. 6. This completes a tubular post. The cam 50 is preferably so formed that the bars 52 do not move downwardly to their lowest position until after the blank, supported by them, has been operated upon by the dies 14: and 15. It will be understood that the dies 14 and 15 are notched to receive the'bars 52, and so that they can move into the closed position, while the bars are in then" raised positions. This, however, is notessential, since the cams 50 may be so formed that the bars 52 will move downwardly as soon as the blank is engaged by the dies 14: and 15. 7

After the dies 1a and 15 have reached the inner or closed position and are again moved outwardly by the operation of the cams 51 to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and at, the machine is automatically stopped. This'is accomplished in the machine illustrated by providing a loose pulley 61 on the shaft 29, a clutch mechanism 62 for operatively locking the pulley to the shaft, and means for automatically actuating the clutch mechanism to release the pulley from the shaft when the machine has completed one operation.

vided for holding the rod 64 in a set posi-' tion; that is, in the position, in which the clutch mechanism 62 is operative, and means are provided for retractmg the rod and l thereby moving the sleeve 63 to render the r V igiesyzea clutch mechanism 62 inoperative, when the rod is released by the latch. The means illustrated. consists of a weight 67, which is secured to the rod by means of a cord, which extends over a guide pnlley 68." The latch is provided with an arm 69,:which projects to il-IllitGCGSSlblG pOSltlOHSZLdjQQQDtto the hanr dlo 65,-and: which is yieldingly held, by a spring 71,. in such a position that it holds the latch in the operative position with relation to therod. When the operator shifts the rod in the direction indicated by the are row in Fig. 5, the 'clutch'mechanism'62:is

rendered operative and the latch 66 engages a shoulder or plate'T2, -onthe rodand holds the rod tionr' a l in the clutch-operatingposi Means are employed for releasing the latch- 66 and thereby permitting the weight 68 tomove the rod and render the clutch mechamsm 62 inoperative after the machine has completed one operation; vAs illustrated, the means consists of a worm 72 mounted or formed on the endof the shaft V 29, a worm wheel'73, which meshes with the wormz72' and a stop 74 carried by the worm wheel, which 1s adapted to engage the latch V 66 and release the bar when the worm wheel has made one revolution. The number of w teeth on the worm wheel are so proportioned that it will make one-revolut on durii'igthe V V tlme it takes the machine to complete one operation, while it is beingdrivenfby, the V slow speed gears 31 :and'33. VWhen the'ma-' chine is driven through thehigh speed it is necess'arytoprovide' means for actuat ing a removable stop 75," which v may be,

located on the gear diametricallyoppOSite' to the stop l, and which is also capable of actuating the latch. The handle 69 may be moved by the operator at any time during the operation of the machine for thepurr" pose of releasing the latch fifiand thereby stopping the machine. V V The machine illustrated is also provided with an automatically actuated brake which,

asillustrated, is thrown into operation by" the weight 67, after the clutch mechanism 62 is rendered inoperative. The brake, as

illustrated, essentially consists of a clutch V mechanism, similar to the mechanism 62,-ex cept that the member engaged by the rotating member, which is operatively connected to the shaft 29, is stationary and therefore tends to check the speed" and asap the shaft 29, when the rotating member on the shaft is moved into engagement with it. Any suitable typeof clutch mechanism may be employed. In the drawings we have illustrated a stationary portion 78, rigidly secured to the bracket 28 and adapted to cooperate with a rotatable member splined on the shaft 29. The sleeve 63, to which "the" lever 63 is foperatively connected, is'adapted 100V 1 gears, that is, through'the gears sauna-34,

to shift the splined rotatable member and to thereby operate the brake mechanism, when it is moved longitudinally of the shaft 29, toward the brake mechanism. When the latch 66 releases the rod 64:, the rod moves, in response to the pull of the weight 67, in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 5, and it shifts the lever 63, which moves thesleeve 63 so as to render the clutch mechanism 62 inoperative, and then to set the brake. Then the sleeve 63 is in the intermediate positionbe tween the clutch mechanism 62 and the brake, neither is operative. With this construotion the first movement of the handle 65, to start the machine, releases the brake and, as the motion of the handleis continued, the clutch mechanism 62 is finally rendered operative and the machine is started. By employing such a construction it is possibleto stop the machine, at a desired point of its operation, after each post-forming operation. j

The dies employed, in the machine illus trated, are so constructed that they form a post which is trifoliate in cross-section and is tapered from oneend to theother; that is, the finished post formed by the machine is substantially triangular in crosssection,'

but the apexes or ridges are rounded and longitudinal. grooves are so formed between the ridges, that the cross-section of the post resembles the outline of a compound leaf having three points; In Figs. 6 and 10 of the drawings we have illustrated a post having two longitudinally extending ridges 79, a ridge 81, along which the abutting edges of the forming blank extend, and

grooves 82 which extend longitudinally of the post, and each of which is located between two adjacent ridges. vVhile the machinemay be employed in the formation of a different form of trifoliate post, we have found it desirable .to so form the post, that the abutting edges of the forming blank are located along the ridge 81. It will be understood that the abutting edges of the form may be located along one of the grooves, but,

by employing the construction illustrated,

the operation of forming the postis simplified, since the metal blanks employed, may be so formed n the lnit-ial pressing operation that all that is necessary,;in the final or finishing operation, is to bend or press the lateral edges, of the blank inwardly so that they abut against each other. In other words, the first operation of forming a post from sheet metal consists in distorting the sheet metal blank so as to form the grooves 82,in the blank, and so as to partially form the ridges 79. The metal adjacent tothe lateral edges of the' blank is also so formed that the ridge 81 is formed by merely movingthelateral edges into engagement with each other. When thls operation is com pleted the blank is substantially troughshaped, with its lateraleclges extending upwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, and the ridges other. This last operation, as has been said,

is accomplished by means of the jaws or dies 14, and 15, which are adapted to move inwardly and to engage the partially fin ished blank, after it has been lifted, by the bars 52, to the position illustrated in Fig. 4:. Each of. the dies lland 15 is provided with an inclined face 83, which engages the curved edges of the blank, as the dies, move inwardly, andwhich operates to force the edges toward each other.

Additional means, other than the inclined faces 83, of the dies, must be employed in bending the metal of the blanks, so that their lateral edges abut against each other, and we therefore provide means for pressing the partially formed ridges 79 after the blank is bent to, and is held in a position with its lateral edges in contact with each other. This is accomplished by providing longitudinally extending grooves 84 in the dies 14: and 15, which are so located that they engage the ridges 7 9 on the sheet metal blanks, when the dies 14: and 15 are moved to the closed position. The grooves are so formed that they press the walls of the ridges 79 toward each other and to such positions that the lateral edges of the blank are pressed into contact with each other, and are held in that position in the finished post.

In the drawings we have illustrated means for cutting or stamping wire locking lugs from the metal of the post, during the operation of forming the post. The means illustrated consists of a series of punches 86, which are secured to the movable die 13, and a series of cooperating dies 87, which are formed in metal strips 88, mounted on the stationary die 12.

The punches are formed separately, are mounted in apertures formed in the face of the die 13 and are secured in place by means of set-screws 89, which project laterally through the die13 and through apertures 91, formed in the punches 8G. The punches are alined along the portion of the die 13, which forms the groove 82 between the ridges 79 on the separate blanks, and the strips 88 are correspondingly located on the die 12, and are secured in place in a slot 92, which extends longitudinally of the die. The punches are so constructed that they cut wire locking'tongues 83, from the metal blanks, whichare similar to the tongues illustrated and described in patent No. 1,037,345 of September 3, 1912, andwhich are-capable of being looped back into lock ing engagement with the slots from which they are out. Each tongue is provided with ahead 9l,see Fig. 10, and each slot .cut .in the sheet metal blank, bythe formation of the tongue, is enlarged at points adjacent 'to the head, by completely severing a piece of metal from the blank on each side of the tongue and immediately adjacent to the under sideof the head. rEach punch '86 is therefore provided with two projecting lugs 95, which are located on either side of the head cutting'portion of the punchand which coiiperate with apertures 86, formed 'in the i die strip 88, in enlarging the slots by comp'letel-y severing'the above referred to pieces of metal from the blanks. The apertures 86 extend through the die strip 88, communicate with downwardlyextending apertures formed'in the die 12 and permit the pieces of sheet metal, severed by thelugs95,

to 'drop through both the dies onto the bed plate of the machine. The punch es. 86 and their coiiperating dies are so formed that they not only form the tongues '93,"but also press them outwardly, with relation 'tofthe completely formed post, so that they occupy wire receiving positions. This is accomplished by extending the punches so' that they pro] cct downwardly the desired .amount into the dies 87, when the die 13 has reached the end or" its downward stroke. As illustrated, we have also provided a face -96, on each die 88, which forms a support for the partially severed tongues when the die 13 is in the lowest position, and therefore codperates with the bottom face of the'punch in pressing the tongue into the desired position.

The tongue punching operation is substantially coincident with the initial ,pressing operation, and, after the tongueshave been cut and the blank is initially depressed or distorted, the bars '52jlift the blanks and thereby" free the tongues 93 from the dies 87.. The die strips 88are so spaced, along the die block .12, that the bars '52 pro]ect upwardly through the dies 12 and between the ends of adjacent strips 88.

It will be understood that the tongues 93 may be formed in various ways and that the construction of the punches 86 and their cooperating dies 87 may be materially modified, without departing from our invention.

What I claim is: a

1; In a machine for forming sheet metal fence posts, a pair of forming dies for initially compressing sheet metal blanks to trough-shaped. forms, and a pair of finishing dies for receiving blanks from the forming dies for pressing the lateral edges of the initially compressed blanks into non-overlapping abutting engagement with each other, and for longitudinally distorting the blanks at points between theirlateral edges,

while their lateraledges are held in engagement with each other.

2. A.machine of the character described,

. comprising dies for initially distorting a metal blank and forming therein alternately arranged grooves and ridgesQa plunger for 'actuatingoneof said dies,,and diesmovable at an angle 'to the line ofmotion of the plunger for bending an initially compressed 7' blank about ridges formed thereon, for

pressing the lateral .e dgesof the blank into V first-mentioned dies for moving the initially compressed blanks from the firstmentioned dies into the pathof travel of the finishing; dies and means for moving the 'finishing dies inwardly, after the vertically movable 9 die'has beenmovecl nt of the path of their travelfb'y said plunger.

4. In a machine of thecharacter described, a pair of dies 'for initially distorting metal blanks, =a ,pair of finishing dies Imovable to- 9 ward and'away'from each other, for pressthe initially compressed. blanks :deliv ered by the first mentioned dies, means for moving one o'f the first mentioned dies to an operative position between theiinishing l dies, means, cooperating-with 7 said first mentioned dies, durlng theipressing operatron, for moving initially compressed blanks 'fromthe first mentioned dies into the path ofltrav'el ofthe finishing dies and for 00- 1 operating with the finishing dies I during theirv pressing o, oration, and means for.

hold the edges moving the finis ing dies inwardlyYafter the movable die of said first mentioned dies has been-moved out of the .pathozttheir 1 travel. a a

5. In a machineof the character described, means for initially stamping .;sheet metal blanks and means 'for pressing the initially" stamped blanks into'tubula-r form, a driving 1 agent for actuating said machine, manually operated means IEQI'fOPQI'ZLtlVQlY connecting a said dr-lvlng agenttothe'ma'chme and means controlled by the drivingmeans for automatically disconnecting the driving agent 1 from the machine, and abrake actuated by 1 1 said last mentioned means.

6. In a machine ofthe character described, if

means for initially compressing a sheet metal blank, comprising,;apair ofrelatively 1 movable dies,-'aflsecond pair-ofdies for compressing metal sheetsiafterthey :have been 3 initially compressed, bars movablethrou'gh apertures formedin one of said .firstfmene am dies e m st rihb m aid b r compressed sheets to a pair of movable dies for initially com- 7 pressing sheet metal blanks, means mounted on said dies for striking Wirelocking tongues from the metal during the forming opera tion and a second pair of dies for compressing the initially compressed blanks into substantially tubular shapes.

9. In a machine of the character described, a pair of relatively movable dies for pressing sheet metal blanks, punches removably mounted in apertures provided in one of said dies, and projecting beyond the operative surface of their mounting die, and punch dies formed in a die strip and mounted on the other relatively movable die, the exposed surface of the strip cooperating With the operative surface of the mounting die during the blank pressing operation.

10. in a machine of the character described, means for cutting tongues from sheet metal comprising, a punch having a lug-cutting portion and projecting lugs formed thereon, and located at each side of said lug-cutting portion, and a die cooperating Withsaid punch and said projecting lugs.

11. In a machine of the character described, a punch and die for cutting tongues from sheet metal blanks and means mounted on the punch and coiiperating With the die for completely severing pieces of metal from the blank, prior to the lug-cutting operation.

12. In a machine of the character described, a pair of dies havinglongitudinally extending converging ridges and cooperat grooves thereon, for initially compressing sheet metal blanks and a second pair of con erging dies for pressing the initially comprcssedblanks and having converging grooves formed therein for receiving ridges on the initially compressed blanks.

In a machine of the character described, a plurality of separate means for consecutively forming sheet metal posts, driving means for the machine, speed change between 1 e machine and the driving means and ad ustable means, actuated by the driving means, for stopping the machine at a predetermined point.

scribed, a power saatt, a driving shaft for the power shaft, speed change gears between thepower shaft and the driving shaft, a driving agent, means for rendering said agent effective in actnat 1g the driving shaft, a release mechanism for rendering said means ineffective, and means driven by the driving shaft and having adjustable stops for actuating said releasing mechanism and stopping said machine at a determined point in its cycle; 7

In a machine of the character described, a pair of forming dies for initially compressing metal blanks, a pair of finishing dies for pressing the initially compressed blanks into substantially tubular form, said dies being so located that the path of action of one pair crosses the path of action or" the other pair, and bars for coiiperating with the forming dies during theirpressing operation, for moving initially compressed blanks from the forming dies into the path of action of the finishing dies.

16. In a machine of the character described, a pair of forming dies for initially compressing sheet metal blanks, a pair of finishing dies for compressing initially compressed blanks, movable bars for cooperating with the forming dies, during their pressing operation, and means for moving said bars to deliver initially compressed blanks into the path of action of the finishing dies.

17. In a machine of the character described, a pair of relatively movable dies, for initially compressing sheet metal blanks, a second pair of dies for receiving initially compressed blanks, said dies being so located that the path of action of one pair crosses that of the other pair, convcyer bars projecting upwardly through one of the dies of the first-mentioned pair, and for delivering blanks from the first to the second pair of dies, a power shaft for actuating the firstmentioned dies, rocker arms, actuated by the power shaft, for actuating the second pair of dies, and means, actuated by the power shaft, for actuating the bars.

18.]11 a machine of the character de scribed, a pair of relatively movable dies forinitially compressing sheet metal blanks, a second pair of dies for receiving initially COIIl JI'QSSQCl blanks, and conveyer bars for moving the blanks from the first-mentioned to the second pair of dies and for cooper-at ing with the second pair of dies, during their operation.

19. In a machine of the character described, a pair of dies for initially compress;

for receiving the initially compressed blanks from the first-mentioned dies and for bendingzthem into substantially tubular form substantially rtrough shaped 20. A machine of the character described, comprising, dies for initially compressing a metal blank, and for forming therein alternately arranged grooves and ridges, means mounted on said dies for striking lugs from the metal of the blank, during the'compressing operation, and finishing dies, movable at an angle to the line of action of the firstmentioned dies, for bending the blank about one of the ridges formed therein, and for moving its'lateral edges into abutting engagement with each other.

21. In a machine of the character described, a pair of initial distorting dies for initially distorting sheet metal blanks to a formation, means mounted on said dies for cutting tongues from the sheet metal blanks, during the pressing operation, and means, cooper-- ating therewith, for completely severing pieces of metal from the blank prior to the lug-cutting operation, finishing dies for pressing the-initially compressed blanks into substantially tubular forin,'and means for conveying the initially com-pressed blanks from the initial to the finishing dies.

'29. In a machine of the character de- 7 scribed, initial dies for initially compressing compressed blanks about ridges formed therein, for the purpose of moving their lateral edges into abutting engagement with each other, each of the second pair of dies being provided with a groove for receiving.

a ridge of each blank compresed, and for distorting the metal of the ridge Whilethe edges ofthe blank are in engagement with each other.

2%.111 a machine of the character described, a pair of relatively reciprocable dies, for initially pressing sheet metal blanks,

unches mounted in apertures formed in one .of the dies and projecting beyond the operative face of their mounting die, and punch dies formed in a die strip and mounted on the other relatively reciprocable die, and

- reciprocable finishing dies for engaging un- V punched portions of initially compressedblanksfand for pressingtheirx lateral edges into abutting engagement'n'ith each other.,

25. In a'machine for forniin'g fence posts,

thelatcral ed es of initially'compressed blanks into engagement With each other and for completing the formation of ribs in the blanlnwhile the lateral edgesare in abutting engagement w th each other.

26. In a machine of thevcharacter described, initial forming :dies for initially compressing sheet metal blanks and for striking wire-engaging tongues therefrom,

finishing dies, operating at aniangletoithe initial dies, for pressing the partially formed dies intotubular form, means for freeing the Wire-engaging tongues from theirfor i119 dies, for moving the partially distorted g blanks from the initial'to the finishing dies and for cooperatin g'with the finishing dies during the finishing operation; 1 V

' 27. In a machine of the character dc scribed, initial. forming dies for initially compressing sheet mctalblanks, punchesand dies for striking Wire-locking tongues from] the metal blanks, finishing dies for receiving the initially compressed blanksand for pressing them into substantially tubular form,

and means for freeing the Wire-locking V tongues from their punching dies, for moving the initially compressed blanks to the finishing dies and for cooperating with the" finishing dies duringthe finishing operation;

28. In a machine of the character 'described, dies for successively engaging sheet metal blanks and for bending them into tubular form, a driving agent forthe machine, a clutch mechanism foroperatively connecting the agentto the machine, a brake, for stopping the machine, and means controlled by the driving agent, for actuating the clutch mechanism to operatively disconnect the agent from the machine and to set said brake.

29. In a machine of the character de scribed, dies for successively engaging sheet metal blanks and for bending them into sub stantially tubular form, a driving shaft for the machine, a driving agent for said shaft, a clutch between the shaft and said agent, a release mechanism for actuating the clutch to operatively disconnect the shaft from the agent, and adjustable means, drivenby :the agent, for actuating the release mechanism and for thereby stopping the machine at a determined point in its cycle. I 30. In a machine of the character described, dies for successively engaging sheet; metal blanks and. for bending them into tubular form, a driving shaft; through wh ch and having adjustable stops located thereon,

said dies are actuated, a driving agent for the shaft, a clutch mechanism for operatively connecting the agent to the shaft, a brake for stopping the shaft, a release mech- V anism for disengaging the clutch and settingthe brake, and means, driven by the agent In testimony whereof, We have hereunto 1o subscribed our names this twenty-second day ofNovember, 1912.

GEORGE G. MGGLAUGHLIN. ANTON MILL.

Witnesses E: M. McGALLIsTER,

for engaging and actuating said release ANTON MILL, J r.

mechanism.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

